The basic essentials for living under a roof with four adjacent walls are a constant. But it you live in a shoebox apartment, a dorm room, or a tiny studio, you have to make every little item count. Here are a handful of compact gifts that make a solid contribution to a happy home—and don't take up a whole lot of room while they do it.

Hey there! You might notice our gift guides look a little different this year. That's because we're hoping to get you more involved in them. All of our suggestions are posted in the discussion section. If you have experience or an opinion on one of our selections, let us know! Got a better idea? Share it with us. We truly want to make sure these guides help people buy epic holiday gifts, and many minds are better than a few.